2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Catch My Breath: Understanding Youth Vaping in Idaho Schools Through the Lens of Social Cognitive Theory

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Jaime Sand

Abstract

CATCH My Breath is a free, evidence-based youth vaping prevention program with published evidence demonstrating a reduced likelihood of vaping among students. Schools across Idaho’s public health districts have increasingly adopted this program. To evaluate its effectiveness, pre- and post-knowledge checks are used to collect student-level data.

This dataset includes responses to knowledge check questions, along with students’ public health district, grade level (5–12), and submission date (2025–2026). Using RStudio and BlueSky Statistics, this project assesses differences in e-cigarette knowledge, beliefs, and refusal skills. It also examines how Social Cognitive Theory, highlighting the role of individual experiences, social influences, and environmental factors, relates to students' likelihood to vape.

Project methods include constructing composite scores for cognitive, environmental, and behavioral question responses. Initial analysis shows cognitive, and environmental scores are positively correlated, suggesting students who perform well in one area tend to perform well in others, with variation by grade. Behavioral scores appear independent, indicating possible influence from unmeasured factors.

Understanding the effectiveness of this program is essential for informing broader implementation across Idaho schools.

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